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THE  LYNCHING  OF  JESUS 


"Jesus  of  Nazareth,  a 
man  approved  of  God  unto 
you  by  mighty  works  and 
wonders  and  signs,  which 
God  did  by  Him  in  the 
midst  of  you,  even  as  ye 
yourselves  know;  Him  be- 
ing delivered  by  the  deter- 
minate counsel  and  fore- 
knowledge of  God,  ye  by 
the  hand  of  lawless  men 
did  crucify  and  slay." 
Acts  2:22-23 


/^VM  OF  P^C 
i      JUL  iSl9 

The  Lynching  of  Jesus 


A  Review  of  the  Legal  Aspects 
OF  THE 

TRIAL  OF  CHRIST 

BY 

E.  T.  WELLFORD 

PASTOR  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH, 

NEWPORT  NEWS,  VIRGINIA. 


Newport  News,  Virginia. 

Printed  and  Bound  by 

The  Franklin  Printing  Company, 

227  Twenty-fifth  Street. 

1905 

SECOND  EDITION 


Copyright,  1901, 

BT 
EDWIN  TALIAFERRO  WEI*I«FORD 


DKDICATKD 
TO 

MY  FATHER 

WHO  FOR  MORE  THAN  THRKE)  DECADES 

GRACED  THE 

VIRGINIA  JUDICIARY 

AND 

MY  MOTHER 

OF  WHOM  WORDS  CANNOT  SPEAK 


PREFACE. 

It  is  not  to  write  a  book  that  I  pre- 
sume to  impose  upon  the  public  this 
treatise.  With  deep  conviction,  how- 
ever, of  a  grave  injustice,  a  broad  igno- 
rance of  it,  and  a  yet  more  general 
apathy  towards  it,  I  venture  to  present 
the  legal  aspects  of  the  Trial  of  Christ. 

I  have  not  deemed  it  necessary  to 
quote  more  than  a  single  authority  for 
the  various  positions  taken;  they  exist 
in  such  abundance  that  to  chronicle  all 
would  be  impossible,  and  one  is  suffi- 
ciently suggestive.  My  indebtedness 
to  all  available  sources  of  information 
is  freely  acknowledged,  especially  to 
those  facts  so  ably  presented  in  the 
works  of  Dr.  Joseph  Salvador,  M.  Du- 
pin,  and  Simon  Greenleaf. 

My  quotations  from  the  word  of  God 
are  to  be  found  in  the  Revised  Version. 


The  modern  appellation  of  mob  rule 
and  violence  seemed  eminently  appro- 
priate as  expressive  of  tlie  treatment 
Jesus  received  in  the  dawn  of  the 
Christian  era,  and  is  chosen  as  none 
too  strong  to  convey  a  sense  of  the  in- 
justice He  suffered. 

E.  T.  Wellford. 

Newport  News,  Va.,  U.  S.  A.,  March,  1905. 


CONTENTS 


I  THE  SLAUGHTER  OF  THE  INNOCENTS 

II  THE  ARBITRAMENT  OF  REASON 

III  THE  LAW  OF  THE  LAND 

IV  SPRINGS  OF  ACTION 

V  ARREST  OR  SEIZURE  ? 

VI  COURTS  OF  INJUSTICE 

VII  QUASI-INDICTMENTS 

VIII  THE  PASSION  OF  THE  CAUSE 

IX  ACQUITTED 

X  THE  CLIMAX 

XI  LYNCHED 

XII  JUSTICE 


THE  LYNCHING  OF  JESUS 


I 

THE  SLAUGHTER  OF  THE  INNOCENTS. 

Judge  Lyncli  sat  in  one  Hundred  and 
four  cases  in  1903.  His  circuit  includ- 
ed every  Southern  state,  except  Vir- 
ginia and  Maryland,  with  an  even  dozen 
executions  at  the  North.  One  China- 
man, seventeen  whites,  and  eighty 
blacks  were  hurled  into  eternity  by  his 
orders.  Two  women  were  among  the 
victims.  Mississippi  heads  the  list  with 
eighteen  to  her  discredit.  TribuS 

The  total  number  of  legal  executions 
during  the  same  year  was  one  hundred 

9 


THE  LYNCHING  OF  JESUS. 

and  twenty-three,  about  equally  divid- 
ed between  the  races,  with  seventy- 
seven  in  the  South  and  forty-six  in  the 
North.  The  sword  of  justice  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty-three  times  un- 
sheathed, the  sword  of  i7ijtisiice  one 
hundred  and  four!     And  this  a  land  of 

Vol  27  Nr?^^^^-'-  ^^^  religious  liberty! 

^*  ''  The  year  1904  has  but  added  to  past 
records  a  repetition  of  similar  horrors. 
Before  the  fourth  of  July,  race  riots 
had  been  reported  from  Delaware, 
Alabama,  Ohio,  Virginia,  Illinois,  In- 
diana and  Massachusetts,  Forty-five 
lynchings  in  the  first  six  months  of 
the  year.  The  pen  of  the  statistician 
was  not  dry  before  he  was  called  to 
chronicle  the  atrocity  at  Statesboro, 
Ga.,  on  August  i6th,  and  in  less  than 
a   month    the   attention    of  the  whole 

10 


THE  SLAUGHTER  OF  THE  INNOCENTS. 

country  was  directed  to  the  same  crime 
at  Huntsville,  Ala.,  September  8tli. 
Springfield,  Ohio;  Evansville,  Ind.,  and 
Danville,  111.,  have  attained  a  notoriety 
in  1904  unenvied  by  their  sister  muni- 
cipalities, not  to  mention  times  and 
places  of  lesser  note. 

Such  facts  presage  a  serious  condi- 
tion of  state  and  demand  a  patriot's 
calm  reflection.  Mob  rule  in  its  in- 
ception took  cognizance  only  of  those 
outrages  unmentionable  in  mixed  audi- 
ences, but  by  1903  to  the  twenty  cases 
of  assault  were  added  forty-seven  of 
murder,  with  thirty-seven  of  promis- 
cuous charge. '  Less  than  one  fifth  f7S,une^° 
of  the  lynchings  are  thus  seen  to  be 
for  the  protection  of  womanhood.  Wo- 
man must  be  safe-guarded  but  her  pro- 
tector must  be  the  law.     This  slogan  of 

II 


THE  LYNCHING  OF  JESUS. 

cliivalrous  devotion  to  the  fair,  leaves 
unaccounted  for  eighty  per  centum  of 
mob  crimes. 

The  wheels  of  justice  may  revolve 
i-Trans  byij]^e  "tlic  mills  of  God"'  aud  the  cost  of 

I,ongfeliow. 

legal  proceedings  may  be  great;  slower 
may  be  the  former  and  costlier  the  lat- 
ter than  is  at  all  necessary,  but  the 
execution  of  a  human  being  any  other 
way  makes  more  criminals  than  it  de- 
stro3^s.  Expedition  and  economy  may 
both  aid  in  abetting  the  evil,  but  they 
will  never  stop  it.  The  trouble  lies 
deeper. 

The  populace  has  tasted  blood. 
They  are  conscious  of  their  physi- 
cal power.  The  savage  spirit  of 
barbarity  has  been  revived,  men  must 
be  broken  afresh  to  law  and  order  as 
the  wdld  horse  to  harness.     The   un- 

12 


THE  SLAUGHTER  OF  THE  INNOCENTS. 

bridled  spirit  of  an  unmanageable  mob 
bas  run  away  witb  law  and  justice. 
Tbe  ^ 'Reign  of  Terror'*  has  sprung  up 
in  America. 

Tbe  victim  of  tbe  fiend  may  be  as 
sweet  as  a  rose-bud  and  as  fair  as  a 
lily,  tbe  victim  of  tbe  mob  may  be  a 
very  imp  of  Satan,  but  tbe  real  victim 
of  lyncb  law  is  tbe  Government.  Tbe 
Alabama  jury  was  composed  of  men 
w^bo  tbink,  and  tbeir  words  are  like  tbe 
voice  of  a  propbet,  'We  must  eitber 
make  a  stand  for  law  and  order  today, 
or  surrender  to  tbe  mob  and  tbe  an- 
arcbist  for  all  time."'      Witb  simple  digest 

^        Vol.  29,  No.  15, 

trutb   bas    tbe   New   Orleans     Times-^' ''^^' 
Democrat  said:     ''Tbe  men  wbo  out- 
raged tbe  laws  of  tbe  State  struck  a 
blow  at  tbat  sovereignty  more  deadly 
tban  any  enemy  of  State  sovereignty 

13 


THE  LYNCHING  OF  JESUS. 

'""^DYg'eTtever  delivered."^     So  thinks  the  Presi- 

Vol.  29,  No.  15, 

^•^^^•dent,  ''Indeed,  the  very  existence  of  the 
republic  depends  upon  the  spirit  of  or- 
derly liberty  under  the  law,  which  is  as 
incompatible  with  mob  violence  as  with 
clV.^DuJbiS  any  form  of  despotism."^ 

To  this  disastrous  condition  of  affairs 
is  added  the  humiliating  spectacle  of 
governmental  participation.  The  offi- 
cers of  the  law,  sworn  to  execute  jus- 
tice to  all  and  favor  to  none,  are  found 
calmly  surveying  the  scene  or  actively 
encouraging  it!  To  mob  violence  is 
added  judicial  murder! 

Not  infrequently  the  awful  realiza- 
tion dawns,  when  too  late  to  make 
amends,  that  the  tortured  creature  was 
as  harmless  as  a  babe.  Fur}^  had 
vented   its    wrath    upon    a    vicarious 

14 


THE  SLAUGHTER  OF  THE  INNOCENTS. 

sacrifice  and  tlie  innocent  liad  suffered 
for  the  guilty! 

Justice  David  J.  Brewer  did  not 
go  one  step  too  far  in  that  careful- 
ly prepared  oration  at  Milwaukee, 
* 'Every  man  w^lio  takes  part  in  the 
burning  or  lynching  of  a  negro  is  a 
murderer  and  should  be  so  considered 

I — Literary 

in  the  eyes  of  the  law."'  In  the  ignor-  vof  5.  no.  4, 
ance  and  apathy  of  public  sentiment 
lies  the  mob's  opportunity.  ''The  fact 
is,  the  cause  of  crime  among  us  is  not 
defective  laws,  but  a  temperament  un- 
known to  our  forefathers,  a  new  racial 
tendency  to  tolerate  crime   as  v/ell   as 

_       -  -,         .  2 — Bausman  iq 

to  nnd  excuses  for  it."^  Atn.i^aw 

Review,  '04. 

When  the  people  are  educated  to  the 
enormity  of  these  offences  and  when 
they     grasp     the      inevitable      conse- 

15 


THE  LYNCHING  OF  JESUS. 

quences,  and  not  until  then,  will  there 
be  reform. 

Governor  Montague  of  Virginia,  and 
Governor  Vardaman  of  Mississippi, 
have  won  the  thanks  of  their  States  and 
the  Republic  for  heroic  measures  that 
prevented  lynch  law.  Governor  Dur- 
bin  of  Indiana  and  Governor  Terrell  of 
Georgia  have  made  their  names  ever 
memorable  for  a  fearless  and  patriotic 
and  just  stand  in  the  face  of  riot  and 
disorder.  The  Detroit  Free  Press  has 
recommended  to  a  northern  Executive 
the  efficient  methods  of  a  Southerner, 
* 'Governor  Herrick  of  Ohio  should  lose 
no  time  in  beginning  to  study  the 
Vardaman  manual  of  tactics."  The 
sword  of  resistance  has  at  last  been 
drawn  from  its  scabbard.  Here  is  the 
remedy.     An   open   and   fearless   and 

i6 


THE  SLAUGHTER  OF  THE  INNOCENTS. 

full  exposure  of  the  crime  witli  the 
complete  roster  of  its  participants; 
blood  for  blood;  and  the  moral  support, 
both  in  prevention  and  cure,  of  all 
right  thinking  people. 

Lynch  law  is  usually  credited  as  an. 
American  product.  The  most  awful 
application  of  it,  however,  belongs  to 
the  first  century.  There  is  to  be  found 
par  excellence  the  unauthorized  mob, 
there  the  most  innocent  victim,  there 
the  law  most  flagrantly  defied,  there 
the  judicial  and  military  branches  of 
government  most  actively  engaged, 
there  the  most  deliberate  anarchy,  there 
the  most  excruciating  agony.  The 
lynching  of  Jesus  excels  in  brutality, 
and  in  the  slaughter  of  the  innocent, 
all  succeeding  offences.  So  long  as 
the  twentieth  century  looks  on  with 

17 


THE  LYNCHING  OF  JESUS. 

unstirred  sympathy  and  passes  by  the 
mobbing  of  Jesus  with  unconcern  and 
apathy,  so  long  will  similar  deeds  be 
repeated,  in  any  land,  with  impunity. 
If  the  public  conscience  does  not  re- 
sent the  greatest  it  will  not  take  cog- 
nizance of  the  less. 


i8 


II 

THr  ARBITRAMENT  OF  REASON. 

*'We  know,  and  what  is  better,   we 
feel  inwardly,  that  religion  is  the  basis  of 
civil  society,  and  the  source  of  all  good, 
and  of  all  comfort;^'      The  religious  r-Burk«. 
man  is  the  Christian.     He  believes  in 
God,  the  immortality  of  the  soul,   and 
in  Jesus  Christ  as  his  personal  Saviour 
from   sin.     His    Bible   takes   the   two 
former  for  granted  and  exists  to  reveal 
the  latter.     For  him  to  live  is  Christ, 
to  die  is  gain.^     An  essential  part  of,_phn.,:„. 
his  religion  is  to  have  a  reason  for  the 
hope   that  is   in  him,^  and  he  covets  3-1  Pet.  3:  is. 
for  his  principles  a  candid  investiga- 

19 


THE  LYNCHING  OF  JESUS. 

tion.  Christianity  has  always  been 
ready  to  submit  to  the  arbitrament  of 
reason.  *'If  the  Lord  be  God  follow 
i-i Kings i8:«  Him,  if  Baal  follow  Him'"  has  been 
the  attitude  of  her  prophets  both  be- 
fore and  since  the  days  of  Elijah. 
Show  that  Jesus  Christ  is  unworthy 
and  Christendom  is  ready  to  reject 
Him.  She  asks  for  sympathy  only  be- 
cause she  has  demonstrated  His  divini- 
ty. This  is  the  mind  of  her  master 
and  this  the  stand  of  her  God,  ^If  I 
have  spoken  evil,  bear  witness  of  the 
a-john  18:23.  evil;  but  if  well,  why  smitest  thou  me?"^ 
Crises  are  the  seeds  of  destiny.  The 
kernel  of  Christianity  is  in  the  cross. 
If  three  thieves  v/ere  crucified  upon 
Calvary,  then  all  are  without  God  and 
3-Acts  4:12.  without  hope  in  the  world.^  But  if  a 
thief,  a  sinner  saved  by  grace,   and  a 

20 


THE  ARBITRAMENT  OI^  REASON. 

Saviour  were  there,  each  Christian  is  a 
son  of  God  though  it  doth  not  yet  ap- 
pear what  he  shall  be.'  If  Jesus  of  i-i John 3:2. 
Nazareth  was  a  criminal,  justly  con- 
victed and  legally  executed,  then  His 
followers  have  no  apology  for  their  ex- 
istence, and  their  worship  is  blasphe- 
my. Equally  is  it  true  if  by  wicked 
hands  He  was  crucified  and  slain,  illog- 
ically  and  illegally  put  to  death,  then 
His  rejection  is  a  capital  offence — a  sin 
against  justice,  reason  and  God.  If 
He  w^as  innocent,  or  even  though  guil- 
ty when  illegally  executed,  he  who  de- 
lays to  rise  to  His  defense  is  twenty 
centuries  behind  the  times.  Upon 
the  legal  aspects  of  the  trial  of  Jesus 
thus  hinges  the  dream  of  Paradise 
and  the  hope  of  Glory.  Was  He  con- 
victed and  must  man  eat  and  drink  for 


THE  LYNCHING  OF  JESUS. 

i-icor.  15:32.  tomorrow  he  dies?'  Or  was  He  lynclied, 
suffering  the  innocent  for  the  guilty, 
the  lamb  of  God  slain  for  the  salvation 
of  the  world? 


22 


Ill 

THE  LAW  OF  THE  LAND. 

Guilty  or  not  guilty  is  a  state.  Ac- 
quitted or  convicted  is  a  condition.  An 
estate  of  innocency  is  pre-supposed  for 
all,  oue  of  guilt  must  in  each,  case  be 
proven.  Innocency  may  be  defended 
and  maintained,  guilt  must  be  brought 
forward  and  established.  It  is  the  pro- 
vince of  law  alike  to  shield  the  inoffen- 
sive and  to  punish  the  evil  doer.  There 
are  maxims  in  law  as  there  are  axioms 
in  Mathematics,  and  these  constitute 
International  statutes.  To  this  ground 
work  of  justice  is  added  by  authorized 
legislation  the  law  of  its  own  land.    To 

23 


THE  LYNCHING  OF  JESUS. 

judge  and  to  be  judged  is  the  inalien- 
able rigbt  of  every  individual,  and  tlie 
universal  together  with  the  provincial 
law  the  essential  rule  of  procedure. 
Each  man  has  a  right  to  his  personal 
opinion  on  the  trial  of  Jesus  Christ,  but 
that  opinion  has  neither  weight  nor 
credence  unless  based  upon  His  guilt 
or  innocence  in  the  light  of  the  law  of 
the  land. 

One  must  remember  that  the  life  of 
Jesus  was  passed  in  a  unique  time. 
The  glory  had  departed  from  Israel, 
and  the  sceptre  from  Judah,  the  ty- 
rant's heel  was  on  the  royal  head. 
The  Roman  eagle  had  supplanted  the 
shield  of  David.  Israel's  law  was  now 
bound  in  Roman  Enactments.  Cer- 
tain prerogatives  of  justice  still  re- 
mained with  the  conquered  people,  but 

24 


THE  LAW  OF  THE  LAND. 

sovereignty  was  with  the  Caesars.  In 
wliat  and  how  far  did  the  Hebrews^  au- 
th6rity  remain?  What  attributes  of 
government  did  their  conquerors  reserve 
to  themselves?  All  students  of  ancient 
history  will  admit  two  facts.  The  first, 
that  the  policy  of  Rome  was  to  leave 
her  subjugated  territory  with  every 
manner  and  custom  that  did  not  clash 
v/ith  her  own  conceptions  of  a  world- 
wide empire.  The  people  thus  left  to 
their  national  associations  would  be 
less  restive  under  the  foreign  yoke. 
And  in  the  second  place,  to  reserve  for 
herself  in  eveiy  instance  the  arbitra- 
ment of  life  and  death.  This  Rome 
always  maintained  as  an  exclusive  at- 
tribute of  sovereignty.  It  thus  occurs 
that  the  Hebrew  people  had  the  full 
and  free  exercise  of  their  religion  and 

25 


THE  LYNCHING  OF  JESUS. 

practice    of  their   law,    whilst    at    th^ 
same  time  it  was  not  lawful  for  them 

i-john  18:31.  to  put  any  man  to  death/  Pilate  could 
say,  ^'Take  Him  yourselves  and  judge 

a-john  18:31.  Him  according  to  your  law,''^  but 
Israel  could  not  execute  Christ  until 
Caesar's  representative  had  also  *'deliv- 

3-john  19:16.  ered  Him  to  be  crucified."^  Jesus, 
therefore,  must  be  found  guilty  by  the 
Jew,  that  verdict  approved  by  the  Ro- 
man, be  executed  with  every  humani- 
tarian consideration  for  a  victim,  and 
with  the  impressive  dignity  of  the  law. 
This  was  the  necessary  process  of  any 
case  originating  with  Israel. 

The  Sanhedrin  w^as  the  Hebrew 
Court.  The  great  Council  consisted  of 
seventy-one  members,  the  lesser,  or  pro- 
vincial Sanhedrin,  was  composed  of 
twenty-three  which  was  subject,  how- 

26 


THE  LAW  OF  THE  LAND. 

ever,  to  enlargement.  It  was  the  func- 
tion of  the  great  Sanhedrin  to  appoint 
the  Provincial,  and  to  delegate  to  this 
latter,  when  so  constituted,  the  super- 
vision of  local  affairs.  Capital  punish- 
ment was  inflicted  by  this  smaller  body 
until  the  authority  was  taken  entirely 
from  the  Hebrews  forty  years  before 
the  destruction  of  the  Temple.^  The  f^g^i';"cou"i 
great  Sanhedrin  was  not  an  appellate 
court  but  held  concurrent  jurisdiction 
only;  the  decision  of  either  was  final. 
Before  this  Provincial  Council  Jesus 
must  be  arraigned.  What  were  its 
laws? 

It  is  providential  that  a  question  of 
such  magnitude  should  be  so  easily 
answered.  The  ordinary  reader  may 
find  in  most  all  approved  commentaries 
a  resume  of  the  code.     The  more  dili- 

27 


THE  LYNCHING  OF  JESUS. 

gent  and  painstaking  student  may  fol- 
low tlie  Rabbins  not  only  in  the  Law 
but  its  Traditions.  Tbe  late  Dr.  Joseph 
Salvador  published  at  Paris,  in  the 
early  part  of  the  last  century,  a  work 
entitled  ^^Htstoire  des  Institiitio7ts  de 
Moise  et  du  Peuple  Hebreur  A  Jew 
of  noble  descent  and  innate  capacity,  a 
student  of  broad  culture  and  deep 
learning,  his  work  has  been  a  recog- 
nized authority.  He  wrote  to  justify 
his  people  in  their  crucifixion  of  the 
Nazarene.  The  searcher  after  truth 
may  therefore  take  his  chapter  on 
^'The  Administration  of  Justice'^  as  an 
epitome  of  the  law  void  of  all  Christian 
tendency.  To  the  learned  Israelite's 
credit  be  it  said,  that  however  far 
fetched  his  applications  may  be,  he 
does  not  shirk  to  tell  the  truth  regard- 

28 


THE  LAW  OF  THE  LAND. 

ing  the  law  of  tlie  land,  no  matter  how 
fiagrant  has  been  its  violation  by  his 
peo]3le.  Waiving,  for  the  time,  the 
great  bulk  of  extant  authority  that 
parallels  his  statements,  let  the  candid 
judge  consider  only  those  points  of  law 
admitted  b}'  both  friend  and  foe. 

There  were  three  stars  around  which 
revolved  Hebrew  jurisprudence — an 
open  trial,  an  untrammeled  defense, 
and  unimpeachable  testimony.  The 
first  necessitated  a  Court  that  sat  only 
by  da}?-,  the  second  insured  to  the  ac- 
cused a  thoughtful  hearing  and  assured 
against  all  interference  and  violence, 
whilst  the  third  credited  the  prisoner 
at  the  bar  with  the  benefit  of  every 
doubt  and  required  the  Commonwealth 
to  present  a  company  of  creditable  wit- 
nesses. 

29 


THE  LYNCHING  OF  JESUS. 

Their  conceptions  of  justice  may 
well  be  understood  from  the  attitude  of 
their  Doctors.  Tryphon  and  Akiba 
are  recorded  as  saying,  "If  we  had  been 
members  of  the  high  court,  we  should 
never  have  condemned  a  man  to 
death."  Simeon,  the  son  of  Gamaliel, 
answers,  "Would  not  that  be  an  abuse? 
Would  you  not  have  been  afraid  of 
multiplying  crimes  in  Israel?"  The 
people  who  quibble  about  the  morale 
of  capital  punishment  cannot  be  insus- 
ceptible to  the  genius  of  law. 

If  Jesus  Christ  was  rationally  sup- 
posed guilty  of  blasphemy  it  was  in- 
cumbent upon  the  Sanhedrin  to  take 
cognizance  of  it.  A  warrant  for  His 
arrest  must  be  issued  by  the  legal  au- 
thority and  placed  in  the  hands  of  an 
executive    officer    before    His   liberty 

30 


THE  LAW  OF  THE  LAND. 

could  be  infringed.  Even  then,  after 
His  arrest,  judgment  must  be  arrested 
until  His  guilt  was  establisbed.  Jesus 
must  be  brought  into  Court  by  day, 
and  that  not  2,  feast  day.  The  indict- 
ment must  be  read  and  an  opportunity 
given  the  prisoner  to  plead.  And  let 
it  be  noted  that  a  plea  of  guilty  did  not 
throw  the  accused  upon  the  mercy  of 
the  court,  nor  establish  his  offence. 
"We  hold  it  as  fundamental,  that  no 
one  shall  prejudice  himself."  ^'If  a 
man  accuses  himself  before  a  tribunal 
we  must  not  believe  him,  unless  the 
fact  is  attested  by  two  other  witnesses." 
Again  their  scribes  must  be  reported, 
"For  our  law  does  not  condemn  upon 
the  simple  confession  of  the  accused, 
nor  upon  the  declaration  of  one  p7'ophet 
alone." 

31 


THE  LYNCHING  OF  JESUS. 

In  the  natural  process  of  tlie  cause 
the  witnesses  would  now  be  intro- 
duced. Many  are  ruled  out  of  court. 
No  woman,  child,  slave,  irresponsible 
party,  or  bad  character  can  be  allowed 
to  testify.  No  woman,  because  the 
witness  upon  whose  testimony  the 
guilt  of  the  accused  is  established  must 
strike  the  first  blow  at  the  execution 
in  further  attestation  of  veracity.  No 
child,  because  of  immature  judgment; 
no  slave,  because  he  is  under  orders; 
no  irresponsible  party,  for  the  witness 
is  liable  to  the  punishment  that  he 
w^ould  inflict  upon  the  accused,  if  he 
has  sworn  falsely;  no  bad  character, 
for  truth  is  indispensable  to  justice. 
Before  proceeding  to  their  examination 
eacb  witness  must  be  charged  by  the 
Court.     *^It  is  not  conjecture,  or  what- 

32 


THE  LAW  OF  THE  LAND. 

ever  public  rumor  has  brought  to  thee, 
that  we  ask  of  thee;  consider  that  a 
great  responsibility  rests  on  thee;  that 
we  are  not  occupied  by  an  affair,  like  a 
case  of  pecuniary  interest,  in  which 
the  injury  may  be  repaired.  If  thou 
causest  the  condemnation  of  a  person 
unjustly  accused,  his  blood,  and  the 
blood  of  all  the  posterity  of  him,  of 
whom  thou  wilt  have  deprived  the  earth, 
will  fall  on  thee.  God  will  demand  of 
thee  an  account,  as  He  demanded  of 
Cain  an  account  of  the  blood  of  Abel. 
Speak." 

To  avoid  a  ^'Comedy  of  Errors"  in 
the  Tragedy  of  Life  each  witness  must 
depose,  first,  to  the  identity  of  the  par- 
ty. There  must  be  more  than  vague 
rumor  or  undercurrent  of  superstition; 
the  witness  must  establish  "the  month, 

33 


THE  LYNCHING  OF  JESUS. 

day,  Hour,  and  circumstances  of  tHe 
crime." 

The  personnel  of  the  Court  consisted 
of  twenty-three  judges.  When,  for 
any  reason,  one  was  incapacitated  two 
Elders  were  added,  similar  circum- 
stances again  arising  two  others  ap- 
peared until  the  number  of  Judges  had 
increased  to  sixty-two.  At  their  feet 
sat  a  body  of  auditors,  somewhat  anal- 
ogous to  a  modern  jury.  One  of 
these  might  be  entrusted  with  the  de- 
fense, or  one  might  volunteer  to  aid 
the  accused. 

When  the  evidence  was  all  in  the 
youngest  judge  who  favored  acquittal 
so  expressed  his  opinion,  together  with 
his  reasons.  An  older  officer  might 
have  unduly  influenced,  by  the  weight 
of  his   years,    the  judgment  of  his  col- 

34 


THE  LAW  OF  THE  LAND. 

leagues.  When  all  in  favor  of  acquit- 
tal had,  in  the  order  of  their  juniority, 
expressed  their  convictions,  the  oppos- 
ing judges  were  heard  in  like  manner, 
speaking  with  the  ^''greatest  tnodera- 
ti07iJ*^  Next  was  heard  any  auditor 
who  desired  to  defend  the  accused,  to 
press  any  argument  not  fully  devel- 
oped, or  to  introduce  any  new  consid- 
erations. This  privilege  of  the  floor 
was  not  granted  to  any  who  favored  con^ 
viction.  The  prisoner  was  entitled  to 
every  opportunity,  the  Commonwealth 
to  but  one.  Lastly  the  accused  had 
the  privilege  of  making  his  own  de- 
fense, to  v/hich  the  profoundest  atten- 
tion was  demanded. 

The  case  now  went  to  the  judges  for 
their  decree.     All  spectators  were   re- 

r— Shorthand 

moved  and  two  stenographers^  recorded  known!*" 

35 


THE  LYNCHING  OF  JESUS. 

• 

the  judgment,  one  the  names  of  those 
who  acquitted,  the  other  the  contrary. 
Eleven  votes  out  of  twenty-three  ac- 
quitted and  the  prisoner  was  immedi- 
ately released.  Thirteen  voices  were 
necessary  to  conviction.  One-half  vote 
less  that  a  majority  set  at  liberty,  one 
and  one-half  vote  more  was  necessary 
to  with-hold  it.  No  motion  was  re- 
quired to  arrest  judgment.  It  could 
not  be  pronounced  until  the  third  day. 
The  interim  must  be  devoted  exclu- 
sively to  the  review  of  the  case.  To 
this  end  a  semi-fast  was  ordained, 
meats  and  drinks  were  both  curtailed, 
and  nothing  left  undone  that  would 
contribute  a  ^''sana  mens  in  sano  cor- 
poreP 

The    tribunal    reconvened    on    the 
morning  of  the  third  day.     Any  voice 

36 


THE  LAW  OF  THE  LAND. 

miglit  be  cHanged  from  condemnation 
to  acquittal,  but  not  a  single  vote  from 
acquittal  to  condemnation.  The  spirit 
of  tlie  law  being  tbat  no  man  could  be 
put  in  jeopardy  twice  for  bis  life  eitber 
before  a  Court,  or  even  any  integral 
part  of  it. 

Tbe  execution  was  as  solemn  and 
dignified  as  it  was  serious.  It  was  im- 
mediate, and  tbe  Court  remained  in 
session  until  its  orders  were  carried 
out.  Every  precaution  was  taken,  not 
only  to  prevent  any  mistake  but  to  re- 
deem any  error.  Tbe  judges  were  still 
on  tbe  bencb  and  a  sberiff  stood  at  tbe 
door  witb  a  flag  of  truce.  Anotber 
similar  official  preceded  tbe  execution- 
ers,  wbilst  a  tbird,  a  mounted  courier, 
was  present  to  communicate  between 
tbe  two.     If  any  individual  approacbed 

37 


THE  LYNCHING  OF  JESUS. 

the  judges  with  new  evidence,  or  other 
extenuating  circumstance,  the  magis- 
trate at  the  door  waved  his  flag,  the 
courier  conveyed  the  tidings  and  the 
prisoner  was  returned  for  another  hear- 
ing. The  preceding  magistrate  was  a 
herald  and  in  a  loud  voice  proclaimed, 
^*A.  B.  is  led  to  punishment  for  Blas- 
phemy (or  whatever  charged).  The 
witnesses  who  have  sworn  against  him 
are  C.  D.  and  E.  F. ;  if  any  one  has 
evidence  to  give  in  his  favor  let 
him  come  forth  quickly.' '  The  courier 
reported  all  responses  proffered  and 
the  flag  of  truce  recalled  the  par- 
ties. The  prisoner  was  allowed  to 
secure  his  return  by  a  profession  of 
new  considerations  from  his  own  lips, 
no  less  than  five  times.  The  Chemists 
of  that  age   had   prepared   their   best 

38 


THE  LAW  OF  THE  I.AND. 

anaesthetic  and  it  was  required  to  be 
given  the  condemned  before  reaching 
the  place  of  execution,  to  deaden  his  men- 
tal and  physical  agony.  Death,  in  only 
the  most  flagrant  offences  and  heinous 
characters,  was  on  the  cross.  Such 
was  the  law  of  the  land.  To  what 
extent  was  it  recognized  and  followed 
in  the  most  important  case  on  record? 


39 


IV 

SPRINGS  OF  ACTION. 

A  Stream  can  rise  no  liiglier  than  its 
source.  Inevitably  it  will  issue  far 
below  its  mouth.  The  execution  of 
Jesus  could  not  be  more  just  than  the 
inception  of  the  charges  against  Him. 
The  whole  course  of  His  trial  must  be 
colored  by  the  soil  from  which  it 
springs,  and  ultimately  terminate  upon 
a  lower  plain  than  that  upon  which  it 
originated.  An  illegal  charge  can 
never  be  legally  established^  nor  any 
penalty  therefor  legally  exacted.  The 
rational  mind  is  sure  to  find  the  mo- 
tives that  led  to  Christ's  apprehension 

40 


SPRINGS  OF  ACTION. 

In  the  analysis  of  His  trial  and  convic- 
tion. Indeed,  a  knowledge  of  all  such 
is  essential  to  a  complete  and  trust- 
worthy opinion. 

Jesus  was  bom  of  royal,  though 
humble,  parentage,  in  the  City  of  Beth- 
lehem, brought  up  at  Nazareth  in 
Galilee  and  accustomed  to  attend  regu- 
larly the  religious  functions  of  His  race 
at  Jerusalem.  He  was  a  Jew,  and  by 
training  and  observation,  acquainted 
with  the  religious  and  political  condi- 
tions of  Israel,  with  their  respective 
laws  and  the  manner  of  their  execu- 
tion. To  every  requirement  He  was 
prompt  to  respond,'  meeting  civil  as  i-Matt. sns. 
quickly  as  sacred  obligations.'  At  a-Matt.  17:27. 
thirty  years  of  age  He  began  His  public 
career  with  a  seal  of  attestation  from 
God.^     For    twelve    months    He    v/as  3-i.uke  3:22. 

41 


THE  LYNCHING  OF  JESUS. 

forging  to  the  front.  During  the  next 
year  lie  was  no  less  tlian  ^'the  day 
1-i.uke  1:78.  spring  from  on  high."^  and  the  "glory 
2-i.uke  2:32.  of  His  people,  Israel.""*  And  then,  it  is 
the  inevitable  course  of  greatness.  He 
was  at  once  the  idol  of  the  multitude 
and  the  envy  of  their  rulers,  whom  He 
had  outstripped.  He  defended  the 
rights  of  the  masses  and  healed  every 
kind  of  sickness  and  disease,  both  men- 
tal and  physical,  amongst  the  people. 
His  word  was  with  authority,  His 
3-Mark  1:22,27  works  wIth  power.^  He  proved  that  in- 
estimable boon  to  a  downtrodden  peo- 
ple, of  one  who  discovers  the  whitened 
sepulchers  to  which  they  have  bowed 
allegiance;  and  in  the  room  of  the  de- 
posed enthrones  a  pure  God,  Said  one 
of  their  own  number,  "No  man  can  do 
these  miracles  that  Thou  doest  except 

42 


SPRINGS  OF  ACTION. 

God  be  with  Him."'  The  conscious- ^-J*'^" 3:*. 
ness  that  as  He  increased  they  must 
decrease  became  a  deep  conviction  with 
the  Jewish  rulers.  From  this  time  on 
their  every  breath  was  charged  with 
^'the  pestilence  that  walketh  in  dark- 
ness and  the  destruction  that  wasteth 
at  noonday.'"'  One  or  the  other  mustz-psaimgi*. 
die;  they  were  afraid,  He  was  not. 

Into  the  home  of  Bethany  came  the 
unwelcome  guest.  Two  went  out — 
Lazarus  and  the  Angel-reaper — and 
two,  Mary  and  Martha,  were  left.  To 
comfort  their  broken  hearts  came  the 
^ 'The  Resurrection  and  the  Life."^  pours-johnnai. 
returned  to  the  fire  side  at  Bethany — the 
Sisters,  the  Traveller  from  that  mys- 
terious bourn  whither  all  depart  to 
come  no  more,  and  Jesus.  All  the 
world  went  after  Him,  because  all  the 

43 


THE  LYNCHING  OF  JESUS. 

world  has  its  dead,  and  His  voice  was 
above  the  sound  of  many  waters,  soft 
and  sweet,  a  reviving  cordial  to  "the 
loved  and  lost.** 

They,  the  erstwhile  rulers  of  the  peo- 
ple, were  not  able  to  go  and  do  like- 
wise. "The  chief  priests  therefore  and 
the  Pharisees  gathered  a  council,  and 
said  What  do  we?  for  this  man  doeth 
many  signs.  If  we  let  Him  thus  alone 
all  men  will  believe  on  Him,  and  the 
Romans  will  come  and  take  away  both 
our  place  and  our  nation.  But  a  cer- 
tain one  of  them,  Caiaphas,  being  high 
priest  that  year,  said  unto  them,  Ye 
know  nothing  at  all,  nor  do  ye  take  ac- 
count that  it  is  expedient  for  you  that 
one  man  should  die  for  the  people,  and 
'"■'°^". 50! that  the  whole  nation  perish  not."' 
"So   from    that    day  forth   they   took 

44 


SPRINGS  OF  ACTION. 

counsel  that  they  might  put  Him  to 
death."'     ^ Jesus   therefore  walked  no'-Jo^^nn^ss. 
more  openly  among  the  Jews.''""    The  ^-Jotn  11:54. 
chief  priests    and    Pharisees    gave   a 
commandment,     "If   any    man    knew 
where  He  was  he  should  show  it,  that 
they  might  take  Him."^     The  path  ofs-john  11:57. 
duty  had  no  fears   for  the  Nazarene, 
and  six  days  before  the  Passover  He 
stopped  at  Bethany  on  His  way  to  Je- 
rusalem/ Then  it  was  the  "chief  priests  4-joiin  tr.  i. 
took  counsel  that  they  might  put  Laz- 
arus also  to   death:    because   that  by 
reason  of  him  many  of  the  Jews  went 
away  and  believed  on  Jesus. "^    So  deep  s-john  12:  n. 
had   thirst   for  blood   buried  itself  in 
their  hearts    that   Lazarus    also    was 
drawn  into  its  murderous  vortex ! 

There  was   one  insurmountable  dif- 
ficulty in  the  way — the  means  to  ac- 

45 


THE  LYNCHING  OF  JESUS. 

complisli  their  foul  design  and  exe- 
cute an  innocent  man.  No  deed  that 
He  had  ever  done  was  reprehensible, 
no  word  He  had  ever  spoken  was  im- 
peachable. Might  He  not  be  entrap- 
ped? At  any  rate  His  enemies  consid- 
ered it  worth  trying. 

The  chief  priests  together  with  the 
scribes  and  elders  were  the  first  to  as- 
say the  impossible.  Tell  us,  said 
they,  "By  w^hat  authority  doest  Thou 
these  things?  or  who  is  he  that  gave 
1-i.uke  30:2.  Thee  this  authority?"^  *'And  He  ans- 
wered and  said  unto  them,  I  also  will 
ask  you  a  question;  and  tell  me:  The 
baptism  of  John,  was  it  from  heaven  or 
from  men?  And  they  reasoned  with 
themselves  saying,  If  we  shall  say 
from  heaven,  He  will  say,  Why  did  ye 
not  believe  him?  But   if  we  shall  say 

46 


SPRINGS  OF  ACTION. 

from  men,  all  the  people  will  stone  us: 

for  tliey  be  persuaded  that  Jolin  was  a 

prophet.      And    they    answered    that 

they  knew  not  whence   it   was.     And 

Jesus  said  unto  them,  Neither  tell   I 

you   b}^   what   authority    I    do    these 

things/"     While  they  were  suspended i-i.uke 20: j^ 

upon  the  horns  of  this  dilemma  Christ 

riddled  them  with  the  hot  bullets  of 

His  logic.      'You   have  been   loud  in 

your  professions,  but  let  Me  assure  you 

that  the  publicans  and  harlots  shall  go 

into  the  kingdom  of  God  before  you. 

You  have  been  like  unto  the  worthless 

son  that  answered,  "I  go,  sir,'' and  went 

not:  they  like  unto  him,  who  though  at 

first   he  refused,  "afterwards  repented 

and  went.''*      *You  are  as  the  wicked  2-Matt.  as:  $». 

husbandmen   who,   beating   some  and 

killing  some,   sent  all   their   master's 

47 


THE  LYNCHING  OF  JESUS. 

servants  away  empty.  The  lieir  they 
slew  that  the  inheritance  might  be 
theirs.  **Did  you  never  read  in  the 
Scriptures  the  stone  which  the  build- 
ers rejected,  the  same   was   made  the 


1— Matt.  21 : 


^'3*3.46: head  of  the  corner?"^  They  writhed 
under  this  discomfiture,  but  He  had 
one  word  more.  ^Remember  the  mar- 
riage feast  of  the  King.  Many  were 
called,  few  chosen.  Those  that  w^ere 
2-Matt.  22:1-14  first  bidden  were  not  worthy.'*  One 
thing  only  prevented  their  taking  Him 
by  force — ^they  feared  the  people. 

Woefully  crestfallen,  they  resign  the 
charge  to  hired  bandits,  and  now  "sent 
forth  spies,  which  feigned  themselves 
to  be  righteous,  that  they  might  take 
hold  of  His  speech,  so  as  to  deliver 
Him  to  the  rule  and  to  the  authority  of 

48 


SPRINGS  OF  ACTION. 

the   governor.'"      Pharisees   and    He- i-i.uke 20: ao, 
rodians  hand  in  handP  a-Mark  12:  ij. 

With  a  flattering  introduction  these 
lewd  fellows  of  the  baser  sort  inquire, 
"Is  it  lawful  for  us  to  give  tribute  unto 
Caesar  or  not?  But  He  perceived  their 
craftiness  and  said,  Shew  Me  a  penny. 
Whose  image  and  superscription  hath 
it?  And  they  said  Caesar's.  And 
He  said  unto  them.  Then  render  unto 
Caesar  the  things  that  are  Caesar's,  and 
unto  God  the  things  that  are  God's.  "^   2^36."^^''''' 

The  subtleties  of  logic  had  failed, 
the  intrigues  of  politics  proved  futile; 
what  next?  An  appeal  to  the  fanati- 
cism of  religion.  Can  any  man  answer 
a  question  concerning  the  resurrection 
of  the  dead  and  not  incur  the  displeas- 
ure of  the  Pharisees  or  the  Sadducees? 
"Master,"  said  the  latter,    "there  were 

49 


THE  LYNCHING  OF  JESUS. 

seven  brethren:  and  the  first  took  a 
wife  and  dying  left  no  seed;  and  the 
second  took  her  and  died  leaving  no 
seed  behind  him,  and  the  third  like- 
wise; and  the  seven  left  no  seed.  Last 
of  all  the  woman  also  died.  In  the  res- 
urrection whose  wife  shall  she  be  of 
^~'^'^^%l^^ih.Qm.}  for  the  seven  had  her  to  wife.'" 
He,  exposing  their  ignorance,  declared 
that  the  resurrection,  ''Even  Moses 
shev/ed  in  the  place  concerning  the 
-  bush,  when  he  calleth  the  Lord  the 
God  of  Abraham,  and  the  God  of  Isaac, 
and  the  God  of  Jacob.     Now  He  is  not 

2-i.uke  20:  the  God  of  the  dead,  but  of  the  livinof.''- 
37-40.  '  c> 

Certain  of  the  scribes  could  no  longer 

restrain  their  emotion,  and  giving  vent 

to   their   feelings    cried   out,  "Master, 

3-ivuke  20:  Thou  hast  well  said."^ 
39. 40. 

They  were  now  driven  to  the  last  of 
50 


SPRINGS  OF  ACTION. 

resorts  and  appealed  to  the  teclinical- 
ities  of  law!  An  attorney  appears  with 
the  question,  **What  commandment  is 
the  first  of  all?^^  Jesus  answered,  "Thou 
shalt  love  the  Lord  thy  God  with  all 
thy  heart,  and  with  all  thy  soul,  and 
with  all  thy  mind,  and  with  all  thy 
strength.  The  second  is  this:  Thou 
shalt  love  thy  neighbor  as  thyself. 
There  is  none  other  commandment 
greater  than  these.'^'  The  scribe,  ac-^-Y*""^"* 
knowledging  that  this  exceeded  all 
burnt  offering  and  sacrifice,  departed, 
thinking  how  Jesus  had  said,  ^'Thou 
art  not  far  from  the  kingdom  of  God.'* 
''No  man  after  that  durst  ask  Him  any 
questions."^  i-Mark  12: 34, 

In  vain  had  the  leaders  appealed  to 
philosophy,  politics,  religion,  and  law. 
He  had  been  tempted  in  all,  but  re- 

51 


THE  LYNCHING  OF  JESUS. 

mained  still  without  sin.  Tliere  is  one 
other  expedient  left  and  they  are  re- 
solved, at  all  hazards,  to  try  it.  The 
illegality  of  the  case  is  already  res  ad- 
judicata.  Even  the  heathen  Seneca 
admits,  *'No  action  will  be  considered 
as  blameless,  unless  the  will  was  so; 
for  by  this  will  the  act  was  indicated.'^ 


52 


ARREST  OR  SEIZURE? 

The  embers  of  Jewish  passion  had 
now  burst  into  a  roaring  flame.  What 
the  law  could  not  do,  for  it  was  just, 
the  unconquered  spirit  of  animosity  de- 
termined should  be  wrought  by  force. 
A  conference  was  held.  Caiaphas  was 
there,  and  with  him  those  of  kindred 
mind.  They  "sought  how  they  might 
take  Him  with  subtlety  and  kill  Him.^^^  i-Mark  14:  i. 
It  was  decided  to  mob  whom  they  could 
not  convict! 

Had  the  masses  fathomed  their  plot 
and  its  motives?  One,  at  least,  was 
sufficiently  sure  of  it  to  act  upon  his 

53 


THE  LYNCHING  OK  JESUS. 

information.  ^^^^^s  Iscariot  went 
unto  the  cliief  priests  and  said,  What 
are  ye  willing  to  give  me,  and  I  will 

i-Matt.  26: 15.  delivei  Him  unto  you?"'  Thi^  he  could 
easily  do,  for  he  was  one  of  the  twelve 
and  knew  his  Master's  movements, 
2-john  18: ».  even  to  the  secret  places  of  prayer.^ 
With  unconscious  revelation  of  their 
own  personality,  they  weighed  out  to 
him  thirty  pieces  of  silver — the  legal 
3-Ex.  2i:32.value  of  a  slave  destroyed  by  a  beast P 
'^And  from  that  time  Judas  sought  op- 

4-Matt.  a6: 16.  portuuity  to  dclivcr  Him."^  Jesus  was 
soon  cognizant  of  this  barter  and 
treachery.  He  spoke  of  it  to  His  dis- 
ciples, and  John  must  have  heard  the 

s-john  23: 26.  tiame  of  the  traitor.^ 

Christ  was  daily  with  them  in  the 
Temple,  but,  doubtless,  for  fear  of  the 
many  hundred  who  would  rise  to  His 

54 


ARREST  OR  SEIZURE  ? 

defense,  they  dared  not  lay  hands  upon 
Him  in  public. 

"Safety  and  innocence  fly  with  the  light, 
Temptations  and  dangers  walk  forth  with  the  i— selina 

night  "I  Shirley. 

True,  it  was  not  according  to  their 
law  to  proceed  under  cover  of  darkness, 
but  law  with  its  devotees  had  been  or- 
dered to  the  rear.  Anarchy  rode  in 
the  saddle  followed  by  his  frenzied 
train.  Under  the  safeguard  of  a  sleep- 
ing city,  Judas  led  them  to  arrest  a 
man  on  His  knees!  With  the  traitor 
went  a  great  multitude  armed  with 
swords  and  staves,  emissaries  of  the 
chief  priests,  the  scribes  and  the  el- 
ders.""  As  they  passed  the  tower  of  ^-Mark  14;  43. 
Antonia  a  band  of  Roman  soldiers  of 
varying  rank,  off  duty  for  the  night, 
swelled  the  motley  aggregation.  The 
flickering  torch  and  earthen  lamp  ad- 

55 


THK  LYNCHING  OF  JESUS. 

vanced  to  obscure  tlie  light  of  tlie 
world!  Out  tlirougli  the  gate  of  the 
city,  down  into  the  valley  of  Jehosa- 
phat,  and  up  the  rugged  slopes  of  Oli- 
vet they  went—- ah,  how  little  they 
knew  it — to 

"Bring  forth  the  royal  diadem, 
x—Perronet.  And  crown  Him  Lord  of  all. ' '  i 

They  found  Him,  as  Judas  expected, 
where  He  oft  resorted  with  His  disci- 
ples. "God  Almighty  writes  a  legible 
hand.''  Innocency  was  inscribed  on 
His  face.  When  they  saw  Him,  and 
as  the  sweet  cadence  of  His  voice  drop- 
ped upon  their  ears,   "they  went  back- 

»-johni8:6.ward  and  fell  to  the  ground.""*  Their 
better  self  recoiled  from  so  foul  a  deed. 

3-Matt.  26: 49.  Judas  kissed  Him.^  To  seize  and  bind 
was  a  lesser  wrong;  stifling  conscience, 
they  took  the  weak  because  they  were 

56 


ARREST  OR  SEIZURE? 

strong!  The  traitor  had  led,  they  fol- 
lowed. Peter  drew  his  sword.  The 
right  ear  of  Malchus,  a  servant  of  the 
high  priest,  fell  to  the  ground,  and  Je- 
sus stooped  to  pick  it  upP  This  was  i-johtii8:io,n 
no  time  for  war,  else  legions  of  angels 
liad  been  present.  It  was  their  hour 
and  the  power  of  darkness.^  "Then  all  2-i.uke  22: 53. 
the  disciples  left  Him  and  fled."^  3-Matt.  26:56, 

There  was  no  cause  of  offence  in 
Him,  not  even  could  any  charge  be 
imputed;  they  laid  hold  of  an  innocent 
man.  There  was  no  warrant  for  His 
arrest;  the  Jewisb  Court  had  issued 
none;  Pilate  knew  not  of  it;  they  were 
a  law  unto  themselves.  Nothing,  there- 
fore, was  ever  said  of  Peter's  resistance; 
he  had  more  right  of  defense  than  they 
had  of  aggression.  Judas  went  because 
he  was  paid,  the  Jewish  mob  because 

57 


THE  LYNCHING  OF  JESUS. 

ttey  were  frenzied,  the  Roman  soldiery 
because  tHey  were  curious.  Miglit  ac- 
complished what  right  would  not  assay. 
Jesus  was  seized;  He  could  not  be  ar- 
rested. If  of&cials  of  either  Israel  or 
Rome  were  there  in  executive  capaci- 
ties, then  to  anarchy  was  added  judi- 
cial complicity;  the  ermine  of  office  was 
stained  with  the  yellow  of  bribery,  and 
annihilated  in  the  whirlwind  of  du- 
plicity.  ' 

Should  further  evidence  be  asked 
the  most  dubious  will  be  satisfied  as 
they  behold  the  prisoner  conducted,  not 
to  any  court  or  legal  judicatory,  but  to 
the  house  of  Annas — a  private  citizen. 


58 


VI 

COURTS  OF  INJUSTICE. 

,  Jesus  was  taken  successively  before 
Annas,  Caiaplias,  and  Pilate,  tlien 
Herod,  and  again  returned  to  Pontius 
Pilate.  Wliat  jurisdiction  liad  Annas 
or  Herod?  What  right  to  sit  in  the 
case  had  Caiaphas?  What  ability  had 
Pilate?  These  are  vital  interrogations. 
They  led  Him  first  to  the  palace  of 
Annas  and  He  was  examined  by  the 
father-in-law  of  the  high  priest.'  This  ;-J^^°  ^s:  13; 
Jew  was  a  w^ell  known  character.  He 
had  occupied  the  bighest  office  of  the 
sons  of  Aaron,  but  had   been  deposed 

2 — Josephus 

by  Valerius  Gratus.^     He  was  a  suc-^^-^^'C^"' 

59 


THE  LYNCHING  OF  JESUS. 

cessful   demagogue.     By   his    intrigiie 
^YQ  of  his  sons,  his  son-in-law  and  his 
Att.'iirch!' IX*  grand-son,  were  made  high  priest.* 

Jesus  was  arraigned  before  him  first 
of  all  for  his  infiuence.  Then  too,  he 
was  a  man  of  enormous  wealth.  Had 
he  offered  the  bribe  with  which  Judas 
and  the  false  witnesses  were  paid?  Did 
the  traitor  lead  the  captive  to  him  to 
deliver  his  goods?     This  is  probable. 

A  third  consideration  is  sure.  Like 
every  Jew,  who  has  accumulated  wealth, 
he  was  a  money  lender.  The  Romans, 
high  and  low  alike,  were  under  many 
financial  obligations  to  him  and  banked 
on  more.  This  power  would  be  a  val- 
uable asset  before  Jesus  could  be 
slaughtered,  and  they  would  make  sure 
of  its  possession  in  time.  It  is  a  striking 
fact  that  the  charge  against  Annas  and 

60 


COURTS  OF  INJUSTICE. 

his  house  remembered  in  Jewry  is  "a 
private  influence  on  the  judges  in  their 
administration  of  justice,  whereby  ^mor- 
als were  corrupted,  judgment  perverted, 
and   the  Shekhinah    withdrawn    from 

Tc-rof»1   »   "»  I— Edersh«im 

Israel.  voi.  i,  p.  163. 

A  fourth  reason  insured  the  out- 
come. Annas  was  certain  to  use  all 
his  power,  both  with  Jew  and  Roman, 
to  put  Jesus  out  of  the  way,  for  ^<9;/^- 
;;2<?;r/(a:/ considerations.  Gold  was  the 
foundation  of  his  opinion.  Christ  had 
on  two  occasions''  thrust  the  money  Mik^nr/sfil. 
changers  out  of  the  Temple  that  God's 
house  might  not  remain  a  den  of 
thieves.  Whose  were  the  booths  with- 
in those  sacred  precincts?  They  be- 
longed to  Annas  and  his  family  and 
were  the  source  of  their  enormous 
wealth!^  '^?tTS^ 

61 


THK  LYNCHING  OF  JESUS. 

WitH  safety  Jesus  miglit  be  commit- 
ted to  his  judgment,  and  this  expecta- 
tion was  not  disappointed.  However 
great  may  be  the  scorn  with  which  the 
twentieth  century  looks  back  upon 
such  a  judge,  it  can  be  no  greater  than 
the  execration  in  which  he  was  held  by 
his  contemporaries,  though,  for  many 
reasons,  they  bowed  to  his  will.  Annas 
had  no  j  urisdiction.  If  it  be  contended, 
as  some  suggest,  that  he  was  president 
of  the  Sanhedrin,  it  is  enough  to  reply 
that  his  house  was  not  a  spot  where 
that  great  court  could  convene,  whilst 
his  personal  interest  in  the  case  would 
incapacitate  him  under  any  circum- 
stances. 

Caiaphas  next  sat  in  judgment. 
Known  to  history  as  one  who  in  char- 
acter  *Vas   hard,    coarse,    brutal,   yet 

62 


COURTS  OF  INJUSTICE. 

adroit  and  crafty.'''  He  was  at  once |7h^aff-"HeVzog. 
the  inspiration  and  the  genius  of  the 
movement  against  Christ,  had  publicly 
declared  that  He  was  worthy  of  death, %-john  11:49,50 
and  having  exhausted  every  means  of 
law,  now  resorted  to  any  lawlessness  to 
accomplish  his  fiendish  design.  And 
yet  Caiaphas  held  the  scales  of  justice! 
It  was  night;  no  Jewish  Court  could 
be  in  session,  no  law-abiding  Israelite 
would  be  present,  for  it  was  the  feast; 
outside  the  hall  of  justice  the  Sanhe- 
drin  could  not  meet.  As  illegal  in  its 
constitution  as  its  conduct!  An  unjust 
judge  and  a  mock  tribunal! 

Pontius  Pilate  was  a  soldier  and  not 
a  jurist.  His  sword  is  stained  with 
the  blood  of  many  an  Israelite.  The 
temple  court  and  holy  city  he  profaned. 
The  sacred  revenues  he  diverted  to  the 

63 


THE  I.YNCHING  OI^  JKSUS. 
i-josephus     construction  of  a  Roman  aqueduct;  was 

An.  Vol.  II,  Ch. 

Doch'^iv^*    subsequently  recalled   to   Rome/  and 
^'  '*^'  eventually  took  his  own  life. 

A  man  with  whom  the  vox  popult 
was  the  only  vox  Dei^  and  whose  opin- 
ions and  actions  shifted  with  the  tides 
of  human  passion.  He  judged  the 
Nazarene  unworthy  of  bonds  or  of 
death,  yet  lacked  the  stamina  to  set 
»-^"^,tSHim  free." 

And   lastly   there    was    Herod — the 

tetrarch  of  Galilee,  and  the  husband  of 

3~Matt.  14: 34.  Herodias,   his    brother   Philip's  wife.^ 

4-Matt.  14: 10.  He  murdered  John   the  Baptist, "^  and 

5-i.uke  13: 31.  had  threatened   to   kill  Jesus.^     *'The 

inherent  weakness  of  his  character  left 

him  in  the  absolute  control  of  his  wife, 

to  the  final  ruin  of  his  fortunes.     He 

was    covetous,    avaricious,    luxurious, 

and  utterly  dissipated;  suspicious,  and 

64 


COURTS  OF  INJUSTICE. 

with  a  good  deal  of  that  fox  cunning 

which,   especially   in   the   East,   often 

forms  the  sum-total  of  statecraft."*   He  voi.  i,  p.  261. 

had  no  more  jurisdiction  in  Judea  than 

Spain   in   the     Philippines,    and   only  ' 

heard  the  case  to  satisfy  his  curiosity""  ^^"'^^  ^'s- *• 

and  to  heal  an  old  grudge.^  2-"'"''"  ''•  "- 

These  were  the  shearers  before  whom 
the  Lamb  of  God  was  dumb/  Two,  if4-isa.53:7. 
not  three,  without  jurisdiction;  three, 
if  not  four,  debarred  by  personal  inter- 
est and  pre-judgment;  and  all  without 
character!  "Judges  ought  to  be  more 
learned  than  witty;  more  reverent  than 
plausible;  and  more  advised  than  con- 
fident; above  all  things  integrity  is 
their  portion  and  proper  virtue.''^  s-sacon. 

Jesus    Christ    was    not   accorded   a 
hearing  by  a  single  unbiased  tribunal, 

65 


THE  LYNCHING  OF  JESUS.' 

nor  before  one  unprejudiced  judge,  nor 
any  competent  authority.  If  Courts  at 
allj  they  were  all  Courts  of  Injustice. 


66 


VII 

QUASMNDICTMENTS. 

One  of  the  astounding  facts  in  tliis 
remarkable  case  is  the  complete  ab- 
sence of  a  legal  indictment.  Before 
Annas  one  was  not  even  presumed; 
before  Caiaphas  it  was  an  afterthought; 
before  Pilate,  on  each  occasion,  and 
before  Herod,  it  was  a  civil  rather  than 
a  religious  charge;  whilst  in  no  Court 
was  a  paper ^  the  necessary  mould  of  an 
indictment,  presented. 

It  was  about  one  hour  after  midnight 
when  they  arraigned  Him  before  An- 
nas. The  father-in-law  of  the  high 
priest  asked  Him  of  His  disciples  and 

67 


THE  LYNCHING  OF  JESUS. 

i-john  i8: 19.  His  teacliing.'  These  were  broad  gen- 
eralities and  might  have  been  put  with 
more  propriety  to  a  witness  than  to  a 
prisoner.  This  Jesus  recognized,  and 
bade  Annas  call  for  such  information 

2-john  18: 21.  f J.QJJJ   the   many   present   who  knew.^ 

Christ  now  insisted  upon  some  specific 
3-john  18: 24.  charge,^  whereupon  the  judge,  because 
he  had  no  indictment  to  present,  sends 
Him  bound  to  Caiaphas,  the  high 
priest!  Was  it  ever  known  in  the 
criminal  jurisprudence  of  any  land  or 
age  to  arraign  a  prisoner  without  a 
charge?  Festus,  when  Paul  went  to 
Agrippa,  sent  this  message  to  accom- 
pany him:  *'It  seemeth  to  me  unrea- 
sonable to  send  a  prisoner,  and  not 
withal  to  signify  the  crimes  laid  against 
4-Acts  25:  «7.  him."^  Paul  had  appealed  to  Caesar, 
but  Festus  was  loath  to  allow  him  this 

6S 


QUASI-INDICTMENTS. 

privilege,  even  upon  request,  without 
some  specific  indictment,  and  urged 
Agrippa  to  assist  in  such  a  draft.  An- 
nas had  none,  asked  none,  and  sent 
Christ  up  without  one! 

Then  Caiaphas  heard  the  case.  It 
was  before  dawn^  and  many  of  the  San- 
hedrists  were  assembled  in  his  palace. 
At  this  conference  Jesus  was  tried.  A 
subsequent  meeting  was  held  in  the 
same  place  after  day-break,  with  a 
somewhat  fuller  representation,  but 
this  was  only  to  devise  means  to  carry 
out  the  nis^ht  sentence.'     It  is  with  the  \^^ll 

°  ^        pp.  82, 83. 

first  that  the  trial  has  to  do.  No  in- 
dictment was  read,  but  the  witnesses 
were  immediately  put  upon  the  stand, 
and  the  prisoner  called  upon  to  reply.^  ^le^*"'  ^* 
His  answers  suggested  a  ground,  and 
He  was  for  the  first  time  charged  with 

69 


I— Matt.  27: 1,2, 


THE  LYNCHING  OF  JESUS. 

x-Matt.  26:65.  any  offence.'  Their  law  forbade  self- 
incrimination,  even  upon  confession, 
unless  supported  by  two  creditable  wit- 
nesses. He  is,  nevertbeless,  now  beld 
for  blasphemy^  and  upon  tbis  fortuitous 
charge  condemned  to  deatb!  A  quasi- 
indictment  indeed — exacted  in  tbe 
course  of  testimony,  and  from  tbe  pris- 
oner at  tbe  bar! 

The  case  now  passes  to  the  Roman 
Courts.  A  blasphemer  is  condemned 
to  death  and  the  authority  of  their  sov- 
ereign  is  sought  for  His  execution. 
Pilate  calls  for  the  indictment:    "What 

2-john  18: 29.  accusation  bring  ye  against  this  man?"^ 
There  was  but  one  ansv/er  to  give — He 
had  been  condemned  for  blasphemy. 
This,  however,  would  not  appeal  to  Pi- 

3-john  18: 30.  late,  and  the  Jews  evade  the  question.^ 
The  Roman  renews   it;  he   was   more 

70 


QUASI-INDICTMENTS. 

juot  than  the  Sanhedrists  and  would 

not  hear  a  cause  without  an  indictment. 

The  jews  answer  treason!''     A  double '-^"^^ 23: 2. 

falsehood  and  a  new  charge!    It  was 

not  their  case.     Furthermore  He  had 

taught^   and   paid^   tribute   to   Caesar.  JlMatl:  17: 27! 

But  this   phase  would    elicit   Pilate's 

sympathies! 

The  cause  is  examined  and  the 
charge  not  proven.  Immediately  an- 
other allegation  is  sprung  and  for 
''''treason''*  is  substituted  '''' sedition P^^tr-^yx^^^^y.^ 
The  hearing  of  this  indictment  is  re- 
ferred to  Herod.  The  adjudicated  cause 
of  treason  as  well  as  this  new  charge 
of  sedition  were  probably  considered  by 
the  tetrarch,^  and  the  case  is  remanded's-i^ukc  23: 
to  Pilate.  He  rehears  the  former,  gives 
due  thought  to  the  new  features  intro- 

71 


THE  LYNCHING  OF  JESUS. 

duced,  and  passes  a  vindicating  judg- 
1-i.uke  23: 14.  ment  upon  botli.' 

Pilate's  wife  lias  a  dream.  Super- 
stition takes  hold  of  the  Roman  sol- 
dier, and  the  Jews,  ever  quick  to  seize 
an   opportunity,   bring    up   the   aban- 

»-johiii9:7.8.doned  charge  of  blasphemy.^     It  had 

3-Matt.  27: 24.  its  effect;  different,^  however,  from  what 
they  expected.  To  Pilate  there  was  far 
more  truth  in  Christ's  claivt  than  Is- 

4-Matt.  27: 18.  rael's  charged 

The  last  indictment  was  the  most 
foreign  of  them  all.  It  was  not  drawn 
against  the  prisoner,  but  the  judge! 
*'If  thou  release  this  man  thou  art  not 

5-john  19: 12.  Caesar's  friend."^  This  settled  the 
case!  Upon  the  relationship  between 
Pilate  and  Tiberius,  Jesus  was  com- 
mitted to  the  cross! 

Nothing,  or  Blasphemy,  or  Treason, 

72 


QUASr-INDICTMKNTS. 

or  Sedition^  or  Blaspliemy  again,  or  a 
Foreigner's  attitude  to  a  Conqueror,  or 
a7iy  thing  that  would  appeal  to  the 
judge  and  jury,  regardless  "of  their  ap- 
plication to  the  prisoner  at  the  bar, 
constituted  the  quasi-indictments  of 
this  extraordinary  cause.  All  were  in- 
troduced pending  the  trial  and  none 
legally  drawn. 


73 


VIII 

THE  PASSION  OF  THE  CAUSE. 

This  case  ^^wasnot  so  mucli  a  trial ^n- 
vironed  with  legal  forms,  as  a  real  pas- 
sion or  prolonged  suffering,  in  which  the 
imperturbable  gentleness  of  the  victim 
displays  more  strongly  the  unrelenting 
i~Dupin.  ferocity  of  his  persecutors.'"  All  legal 
requirements  having  been  ignored  in 
Christ's  arrest,  the  judicatories  before 
which  he  w^as  arraigned,  and  the  shift- 
ing indictments  presented',  one  is  not 
surprised  to  find  the  same  policy  in  the' 
process  of  the  cause. 

Testimony  was  only  introduced  be- 
fore Caiaphas;  not  a  single  witness  ap- 

74 


THE  PASSION  OF  THE  CAUSE. 

peared  in  any  other  court.  These  were 
not  sworn  and  charged.  They  did  not 
depose  to  the  identity  of  the  accused. 
They  were  not  explicit  as  to  the  time 
nor  the  circumstances.  No  two  of 
them  agreed  together.  And  yet  such 
were  the  sme  qiia  7ion  of  Jewish  juris- 
prudence. Had  each  of  these  several 
requirements  been  present,  the  testi- 
mony would,  nevertheless,  have  been 
null  and  void  for  their  characters  de- 
barred. They  were  lewd  fellows  to  be- 
gin with  and  bribed  for  their  evidence. '^-Matt.  26: 59. 
Still,  with  all  their  cunning,  they  could 
not  harmonize.^  The  absolute  failure  ^-Murk  14: 56. 
of  testimony  is  practically  conceded  by 
the  judge  in  his  appeal  to  the  masses: 
*'He  hath  spoken  blasphemy,  what  fur- 
ther need  have  we  of  witnesses?"^  whilst  3-Matt.  26:65. 
at  the  same  time  he  rests  the  case  upon 

75 


THE  LYNCHING  OF  JESUS. 

the  prisoner's  testimony  alone^  wliicli 
was  positively /r(?//z*<5^/^^  by  their  law. 
With  equal  disregard  are  the   rules 
of  argument   ignored.     The  attorneys 
were  not  heard  according  to  their  years, 
but  the  dominant  spirit  spoke  first  and 
last.     His    accusers   so   far   from  pre- 
serving   the      ''''greatest     moderation^'* 
spoke  with  the  most  intense  passion. 
No  auditor  was   heard  in  Christ's  be-» 
half,  but  the  whole  multitude  in  His 
prosecution,  whilst  the  law  forbade  one 
of  the  latter,  and  granted  this  preroga- 
tive to  all  of   the  former.     Even  the 
j  udge,   in  rendering  his  verdict  of  ac- 
quittal,  had   his   reasons  assailed  and 
i-john  19: 7.  liis  motives  impugned. '     Annas  and  an 
officer  spoke  against  Him    before  the 
2-john  18:19-22  first  tribunal.^     Caiaphas  and  the  mul- 
^"^^a^ejititude  accused  Him  before  the  second.^ 

76 


THE  PASSION  OF  THE  CAUSE. 

Many  had  a  voice  in  it  before  Pilate.  N-Mark  15:8. 
Tlie  cliief  priests  and  tlie  scribes  "ve- 
hemently accused  Him"  before  Herod.'' =^-^"^« '3: 10. 
Jesus  was  granted  a  hearing  by  Caia- 
phas  in   a  passion.^     Pilate,  although  6^6^5^.^*^* ''^^ 
he  listened  with   much   more   justice, 
would  not  allow  Him  to  finish."*     The  4-john  is:  j8. 
whole  argument  resolves  itself  into  the 
clamor  of  a  mob. 

"Order  in  the  Court,"  the  sheriff  de- 
mands for  the  dignity  of  law  and  as  an 
essential    of  justice.      A     magistrate 
could  strike  the  Nazarene  in  the  face,^5-johni8:M. 
whilst  on  trial  before  Annas,  with  per- 
fect impunity!      Caiaphas   could  lose 
his  head  and  rend  his  very  garments, 
and  abide  a   righteous  judge!^     They  6-Matt.  26: 65. 
could  mock  Him  as  a  prophetf  revile  y-Matt.  26:68. 
Him  as  a  Kingf  chastise   Him  as   a  s-Mark  15: 19. 
criminal;^    spit  upon  Him  as  a  dog,^°?^^^iVt;i^;f,; 

77 


THE  LYNCHING  OF  JESUS. 

and  crown  Him  with  thorns  as  an  im- 
i-Matt.  27: 29.  mune  to  suffering;'  and  do  it  all,  and 
much  morej  in  the  presence  of  their 
mock  tribunals  and  in  the  name  of  law 
and  justice!  Was  there  ever  a  greater 
prostitution  of  order? 

Could  it  be  granted,  for  the  sake  of 
argument,  that  Christ  was  legally  ar- 
rested and  fairly  tried,  His  conviction 
would  have  been  inoperative,  either  be- 
cause the  case  was  conducted  in  the 
nighty  or  during  the  feast.  As  a  mat- 
ter of  law,  had  Jesus  been  guilty  of 
every  charge.  He  could  not  have  been 
executed  before  Tuesday  under  any 
circumstances.  Supposing  Him  to 
have  been  arrested  even  Thursday  af- 
ternoon^ Friday  was  a  feast  day,  Satur- 
da}^  was  the  Sabbath;  Sunday  would 
thus  have  been  the  first  day  on  which 

78 


THE  PASSION  OF  THE  CAUSE. 

He  could  have  been  tried.  If  such  a 
momentous  case  might  have  been  con- 
ducted in  twelve  hours^  which  is  almost 
incredible,  the  third  day  after  would 
have  been  Tuesday,  and  earlier  than 
this  their  law  forbade  a  conviction.  It 
thus  appears  that  Jesus  was  crucified, 
dead  and  buried,  and  that  He  had  risen 
again  from  the  dead,  before  they  would 
have  had  any  legal  right  to  bring  Him 
into  Court!  The  pace  of  the  law  was 
too  slow  for  their  passion,  and  they  did 
what  others  have  done — took  the  law 
into  their  own  hands. 


79 


IX 

ACQUITTED. 

At  least  two  maxims  of  law  are  set- 
tled witli  the  rigidity  of  an  axiom.  The 
first  demands  an  assumption  of  inno- 
cency  until  proven  guilty,  and  tlie  sec- 
ond forbids  putting  any  individual  in 
jeopardy  twice  for  his  life. 

Annas,  in  the  case  before  him,  could 
have  taken  but  one  justifiable  course. 
The  circumstances  demanded  a  fiolle 
prosequi,  Jesus  was  as  innocent  in  law 
as  in  fact,  and  entitled  to  His  full  lib- 
erty immediately.  The  first  trial  thus 
resulted  in  a  legal  acquittal,  although 
It  was  never  pronounced. 

80 


ACQUITTED. 

A  Similar  motion  would  liave  been 
made  by  any  conscientious  ofl5.cial  in 
the  case  before  Caiaphas.  Acquitted 
at  tbe  bar  of  Annas,  all  jurisdiction 
was  forever  taken,  from  every  court,  to 
try  Him  again  on  this  charge.  Fur- 
thermore, any  impartial  judge  would 
bave  felt  impelled  to  set  aside  the  ver- 
dict of  guilty  rendered  in  this  tribunal 
as  "contrary  to  all  law  and  evidence." 
A  second  time,  unlawfully  put  in  jeop- 
ardy for  His  life,  Jesus  became  legally 
acquitted. 

These  may  be  considered  technicali- 
ties but  they  were,  for  that  reason,  no 
less  operative  in  law.  The  merits  of 
Christ's  acquittal  rest  also  upon  higher 
grounds.  Pilate,  having  adjudicated 
the  case,  entered  his  order,  *'I  find  no 
fault  in  this  man.'"  i-i^ukeasM. 

8i 


THE  LYNCHING  OF  JESUS. 

Herod,  before  wliom  Jesus  was  next 
i-i^ttke  »3: 15.  arraigned,  reached  the  same  verdict.' 

Pilate,  after  a  rehearing  of  the  charge 
of  treason,  and  an  examination  of  all 
the  evidence  in  the  later  one  of  sedi- 
tion, confirms  his  former  opinion  and 
enters  a  second  order  of  acquittal:  *% 
having    examined    Him    before    you, 
found  no  fault  in  this   man   touching 
»-ivuke  23:  M.  those  things  whereof  you  accuse  Him."^ 
That  in  the  eyes  of  the  Roman  Court 
He  was  not  only  legally  but  morally 
innocent,  is  apparent  from  the  pointed 
question  of  Pilate  in  response  to  the 
Jews'  wild  clamor  for  His  blood,  *Why, 
3-Matt.  27: 23.  what  evil  hath  He  done?"^ 

There  was  no  verdict  upon  the  mer- 
its of  the  case  from  the  court  that  sat 
at  dawn.  His  death  was  finally  deter- 
mined upon  during  the  7iighf;  the  only 

82 


ACQUITTED. 

issue  engaging  this  tribunal  was  one 
of  procedure.  Capital  punishment  hav- 
ing been  taken  away  from  them,  it  was 
necessary  to  concoct  means  for  its  exe- 
cution.^ The  case  must  go  before  Pi- i-Matt.  17: 1,2. 
late;  they  were  convened  to  determine 
how,  and  upon  what  grounds. 

"It  was  this,  and  not  the  question  of 
Chrisf  s  guilt,  which  formed  the  sub- 
j  ect  of  deliberation  on  that  early  morn- 

ino*'^^  2— Edersheim 

■^■^O*  Vol.  II,  p.  565. 

To  the  eternal  credit  of  one,  Joseph 
of  Arimathea,  it  is  written,  "The  same 
had  not  consented  to  the  counsel  and 
deed  of  them."^  3— i.uke  23: 51. 

The  Jews  arrested  Jesus  and  tried 
Him  twice  before  the  dawn;  the  Ro- 
mans thrice  arraigned  Him,  in  as  many 
hours,  immediatel}^  thereafter.  In  each 
of  the  five  instances  He  vindicated  His 

83 


THE  LYNCHING  OI?  JESUS. 

right  to  life  and  liberty.  The  judges, 
the  jury,  and  the  people  all  knew  Him 
to  be  an  innocent  man,  and  one  who 
had  been  acquitted  of  every  charge  as 
often  as  there  were  digits  on  their 
right  hand;  notwithstanding,  they  rose, 
en  masse ^  and  hurled  Him  to  doom  and 
death. 


84 


X 

THE  CI.IMAX. 

THe  interesting  question  concerning 
tlie  nationality  of  Christ^ s  executioners 
is  not  one  of  paramount  importance. 
The  burden  of  guilt  rests  upon  tlie  in- 
stigators of  tlie  riot  and  not  upon  the 
officials,  except  in  so  far  as  they  con- 
taminate themselves  either  in  neglect 
of  duty  or  transgression  of  authority/ i_john  19:  n. 

Could  it  be  shown  from  this  point  on 
that  the  execution  was  conducted  by 
the  Romans  in  full  accord  with  their 
statutory  requirements,  it  would  in  no 
measure  reduce  the  guilt  already  in- 
curred by  the  illegal  conduct   of  the 

85 


THE  LYNCHING  OF  JESUS. 

case.  On  tlie  other  hand,  if  the  inflic- 
tion of  the  death  sentence  was  com- 
mitted to  the  Jews,  the  subsequent  acts 
in  this  awful  tragedy  must  be  judged 
in  the  light  of  Israelitish  law. 

This  is  found  to  be  the  status  of  the 
cause.  The  record  is  complete.  ^'Then 
therefore  he  (Pilate)  delivered  Him 
(Jesus)  unto  them   (the  chief  priests) 

'RyiMnioco:^^  ^<^  <^^^^y^^^-"'  ^^  tcstimouy  of  im- 
mediate withdrawal  from  the  case  Pi- 
late resorts  to  the  well  known  symbol 

2-Matt.  27;  24.  of  washing  his  hands.^  The  Jews  as- 
sume   all    the    responsibility    of  His 

3-Matt.  27: 25.  "blood  for  them  and  their  children. ^  The 
Roman  law  would  have  crucified  only 
a  slave^  or  one  convicted  of  the  most 
heinous  crimes;  Jesus  was  neither  the 
former  nor  guilty  of  the  latter.  It  was 
now  the  custom  amongst   the    Phari- 

86 


THE  CLIMAX. 

sees,  hov/ever,  to  crucify  their  enemies y^^l^^^^^^X 

In  His  very  execution,  therefore,  the 
Jews  revealed  their  motives.  Had 
their  zeal  been  for  God,  and  had  they 
truly  believed  Him  a  blasphemer,  Jesus 
would  have  been  stoned.^  On  the  con-2-i.eT.24:i«. 
trary,  they  inflicted  upon  Him  the 
penalty  then  meted  out  to  their  foes. 
Unquestionably  Roman  soldiers  aided 
and  abetted,  but  they  were  the  accom- 
plices of  the  Jewish  rulers. 

The  Israelitish  tribunal,  instead  of 
remaining  in  the  hall  of  justice  (where 
it  had  never  been)  was  present  to  read 
the  superscription  on  the  cross.^  No  mIu.^" ^i?*" 
fiag  of  truce  remained  at  the  door;  no 
courier  accompanied  the  party;  no  her- 
ald signified  the.  charges,  named  the 
witnesses,  and  called  for  extenuating 
circumstances;     no     opportunity    was 

87 


THE  LYNCHING  OF  JKSUS. 

given  the  prisoner  to  secure  a  rehear- 
ing.    He  refused  the  stupefying  bev- 

i-Matt.  27:34.  erage."  The  torturing  agony  of  His 
sufferings  moved  one  heart  in  that  vast 

«-Mark  15: 36.  assemblage  to  pity,^  whilst  the  rest 
danced  about  His  cross  as  the  cannibal 
around  his  human  sacrifice,  and  lashed 
Him  with  their  tongues  as  the  frenzied 
3-^^^^t^^7=  mob  goads  its  smoking  victim!^  Law 
was  never  so  debauched,  nor  ^ 'man's 
4-Bttrns.  inhumanity  to  man''^  so  apparent. 


88 


XI 

LYNCHED. 

*'Take  this  at  least,  this  last  advice,  my  son: 

Keep  a  stiff  rein,  and  move  but  gently  on; 

The  coursers  of  themselves  will  run  too  fast, 

Your  art  must  be  to  moderate  their  haste,  "i  i— Addison. 

This  lesson  tlie  first  and  twentietli 
centuries  liave  alike  to  learn.  Jesus 
Christ  was  an  innocent  man.  The  em- 
bers of  hatred  kindled  in  the  breast  of 
His  competitors.  The  drafts  of  clan- 
destine conclaves  stirred  them  to  white 
heat.  The  smoke  of  calumny  rose  to 
impregnate  the  atmosphere  of  Jerusa- 
lem, and  was  inhaled  by  the  multitudes 
who  had  come  up  to  the  feast.  At  mid- 
night a  lurid  flash  stole  through   the 

89 


THE  LYNCHING  OF  JESUS. 

walls  of  secrecy.  Few  saw  it.  While 
the  city  slept,  the  fire  burned.  The 
flames  leaped  beyond  their  bounds  and 
swept  down  past  the  tower  of  Antonia. 
The  roar  of  the  conflagration  gathered 
a  curious  multitude.  The  olives  in 
the  garden  of  Gethsemane  were  ablaze. 
The  wind  changes  and  the  house  of 
Annas  is  the  centre  of  concern.  The 
fire  is  now  beyond  control  and  sweeps 
past  the  palace  of  Caiaphas  with  a  deaf- 
ening crash  of  falling  stones,  amid  im- 
penetrable clouds  of  dust.  The  judg- 
ment hall  of  Pilate,  the  transitory  abode 
of  Herod,  and  the  private  dwelling  of 
the  procurator  all  yield  in  quick  suc- 
cession to  the  uncontrollable  monster. 
Well-nigh  the  entire  city  presses  be- 
yond its  gates  and  stands  upon  Gol- 
gotha.    There  they  witness  the  whole 

90 


I.YNCHKD. 

scene.  It  was  Jesus  at  tlie  stake! 
Lynched  by  the  insatiate  passion  of  a 
misguided  multitude!  Instigated,  led, 
and  consummated  by  their  judiciary! 
Innocent,  and  it  was  known!  Truth, 
no  matter  how  long  it  has  been  "crush- 
ed to  earth,"*  shall  rise  again.  They  i-Bryant. 
Lynched  Him  There.*  2-i.uke  23: 53. 


91 


XII 

JUSTICE. 

The  centuries  have  shifted  since 
then  like  the  sands  upon  the  seaside. 
With  the  irresistible  incoming  of  the 
great  ocean's  billows  the  truth  has 
broken  upon  every  shore.  Jesus  is 
now  worshiped  the  world  over.  The 
Roman  Empire  has  so  long  lain  in  its 
grave  that  the  very  language  upon  its 
disheveled  head-stone  is  a  forgotten 
tongue.  The  Forum  has  been  buried 
for  a  millenium  under  the  debris  of  the 
"Eternal  City."  Caesar  lives  only  in 
the  task  of  the  school  boy  or  upon  the 
dusty  shelves  of  the  student.     Where 

92 


JUSTICK. 

Nero's  human  torclies  burned  stands 
the  great  St.  Peter's,  dedicated  to  the 
crucified  Jesus  of  Nazm^eth, 

Israel,  the  more  active  participant  in 
this  awful  tragedy,  presents  a  most  pa- 
thetic spectacle.  Clinging,  like  the 
aged  and  infirm,  to  all  the  memories 
and  traditions  of  her  3^outh,  she  is  con- 
scious of  being  merely  a  ^'wandering 
Jev/."  Found  amongst  every  kindred 
and  people,  in  all  climes  and  countries, 
but  everywhere  an  alien  and  a  stran- 
ger. Always  preserving  their  distinct 
nationality,  their  manners  and  cus- 
toms, but,  nevertheless,  kingdomless 
and  throneless,  houseless  and  home- 
less, and,  with  but  notable  exceptions, 
friendless.  Preserved,  as  no  one  can 
doubt,  for   some   unrevealed  destiny — 

93 


THE  LYNCHING  OF  JKSUS. 

•'Their  lives  through  various  scenes  are  drawn  ' 
i-.Watts.         And  vexed  with  trifling  cares.  *  * » 

But   the  name   of  Jesus   rises   like 
Dumbarton   from  the  Clyde,  like  tke 

Acro-Corintlius  from  tke  plains  of  At- 
tica, like  Gibraltar  from  tbe  sea.  The 
purity  of  His  character  and  the  lofti- 
ness of  His  ideals  remind  one  of  the 
Jungfrau  as  it  towers  above  the  Jura 
range,  or  the  immaculate  snow  of 
Mont  Blanc  as  seen  from  the  vale  of 
Chamoix.  His  words  were  with 
thoughts,  like  the  tongue  of  Athens 
with  phraseology,  clear  cut  and  per- 
spicuous, and  susceptible  of  the  thin- 
nest shades  of  distinction.  They  are  to 
other  v/ords  what  the  glories  of  the 
Acropolis  are  to  art.  His  conceptions 
of  truth,  virtue,  and  inherent  beauty 
antedate    the    prehistoric    records     of 

94 


JUSTICE. 

Egypt  and  blaze  a  path  for  tlie  twen- 
tietH  century.  No  mortal  ever  yet  was 
satisfied  around  whom  had  not  entwined 
His  love  as  the  mountains  gather  about 
Jerusalem.'  i-ps.  125:* 

"His  name  yields  the  richest  perfume, 

And  sweeter  than  music  His  voice; 
His  presence  disperses  my  gloom, 

And  makes  all  within  me  rejoice.  "2  2— Newton. 

So  indisputably  is  the  innocent  vie, 
tim  of  Jewish  wrath  the  pivot  of  the 
ages,  that  hoary  Time  is  only  known 
by  its  distance  from  His  j'ou^/zf 

To  none  other  has  the  world  rendered 
such  testimony.  Shakespeare  and  lit- 
erature have  drawn  upon  the  majesty 
of  His  character,  and  told  their  sub- 
limest  facts  in  the  regal  simplicity  of 
His  words.  To  the  great  Spinoza  He 
was  the  "symbol  of  wisdom,"  to  Hegel 
''of  the  union  of  the  Divine  and  Hu- 

95 


THE  LYNCHING  OF  JESUS. 

man."  He  was  Herder's  "realized 
ideal  of  humanity.''  Matthias  Claudias 
felt  "no  one  ever  tlius  loved,"  and  the 
immortal  Carlyle  bowed  before  Him  as 
*^a  symbol  of  quite  perennial,  infinite 
character,  whose  significance  will  ever 
demand  to  be  anew  inquired  into,  and 
anew  made  manifest."  The  godly 
Richter  adored  Him  as  "the  holiest 
among  the  mighty  and  the  mightiest 
among  the  holy,  who  lifted  with  His 
pierced  hands  Empires  off  their  hinges, 
and  turned  the  stream  of  centuries  out 
of  its  channel,  and  still  governs  the 
ages."  The  base  Rousseau  is  honest 
enough  to  express  the  verdict  of  clear 
justice:  "What  sweetness,  what  purity 
in  His  ways,  what  touching  grace  in 
His  teachings!  What  a  loftiness  in 
His  maxims,  v/hat  profound  v/isdom  in 

96 


JUSTICE. 

His  words!  Wliat  presence  of  mind, 
wliat  delicacy  and  aptness  in  His  re- 
plies! What  an  empire  over  His  pas- 
sions!'^ All  tlie  world  remembers  how 
lie  said  of  Him,  *'If  the  death  of  Soc- 
rates be  that  of  a  sage,  the  life  and 
death  of  Jesus  are  those  of  a  God."  De- 
Vette  wrote  in  the  preface  to  his  com- 
mentary on  the  wonderful  book  of  Rev- 
elation, ^^This  only  I  know,  that  there 
is  salvation  in  no  other  name  than  in 
the  name  of  Jesus  Christ,  the  Cruci- 
fied, and  that  nothing  loftier  offers  itself 
to  humanity  than  the  God-manhood 
realized  in  Him."  Napoleon,  with  all 
his  faults,  was  a  master  of  men.  He 
understood  them,  and  they  bowed  to 
his  indomitable  will.  Above  all  others, 
even  above  himself,  he  placed  the  great 
Nazarene,     ^'The  prudence  of  His  con- 

97 


THE  LYNCHING  OF  JESUS. 

duct/'  said  he,  ''compels  our  admira- 
tion by  its  union  of  force  and  gentle- 
ness, alike  in  speecli  and  action  He  is 
enlightened,  consistent  and  calm.  Sub- 
limity is  said  to  be  an  attribute  of  Di- 
vinity; what  name,  then,  shall  we  give 
llim  in  whose  character  were  united 
every  element  of  the  sublime?  I  know 
men,  and  I  tell  you  that  Jesus  is  not  a 
man.  Everything  in  Him  amazes  me. 
His  spirit  outreaches  mine  and  His 
will  confounds  me.  Comparison  is  im- 
possible between  Him  and  any  other 
being  in  the  world.  I  defy  you  to  cite 
GeiSe"^£ife  auothcr  Hfc  like  that  of  Christ.''^  When 
Napoleon  challenged,  the  world  surren- 
dered. 

An  introspective  glance,  not  a  tele- 
scopic vision,  reveals  the  secret  of  the 
unbelievers'  attitude.     The  followers  of 

oS 


I — See  Intro- 


JUSTICE. 

Jesus  Christ  are  estimated  at  477,080,- 
158.  THe  devotees  of  tlie  next  largest 
cult,  Confucianism,  are  only  256,000,- 
000.  Whilst,  therefore,  the  bulk  of 
heathendom  far  outstrips  Christianity 
in  the  number  of  its  adherents,  the  fol- 
lowers of  Jesus  are  nearly  twice  as 
many  as  of  any  other  religious  teacher!'  LtSII 
Millions  upon  millions  of  dollars  are 
being  freely  given  and  judiciously  ex- 
pended annually,  over  $20,000,000  in 
foreign  countries  alone,  to  maintain 
and  extend  this  gospel,  until  it  shall 
have  permeated  every  land  and  sup- 
planted every  faith!  Civilization  and 
Christianity  go  hand  in  hand.  Where 
there  is  civilization  one  finds  the  relig- 
ion of  Jesus,  and  wherever  the  nation 
worships  any  other  God  civilization  is 
unknown.      The   miraculous    develop- 

99 


TKH  LYNCHING  OF  JESUS. 

ment  and  present  balanceof  power  held 
by  Christianity  presuppose  a  benedic- 
tion to  the  world.  He  who  rejects  the 
proffered  peace  and  pardon  of  the  Gos- 
pel finds  the  root  of  bitterness  in  his 
own  hea7't  and  never  in  the  Head  of 
the  Church. 

Every  excuse,  therefore,   which  has 

been  advanced  for  unbelief  is,  as  the 
thoughtful  expect  to  find  it,  spun  out 
of  the  fertile  imagination  of  a  preju- 
diced brain — an  allegation  grounded 
neither  in  His  words  nor  works,  but 
born  of  their  hostile  minds. 

The  Church  of  Jesus  has  met  the 
issues.  Although  conscious  of  the 
source  of  each  criticism,  she  has  ig- 
nored all  technicalities,  and  given  a 
calm,  full,   and  public  hearing  to  any 

lOO 


JUSTICE. 

charge.  Justice  and  truth  have  quashed 
every  indictment. 

Christendom  has  waived  her  rights 
of  sole  and  original  jurisdiction,  and 
joined  in  appealing  her  cases  to  the 
bar  of  reason.  Law,  and  logic,  and 
facts   have   concurred   in    a   world-ap- 

JL 

proved  opinion,  "That  there  is  none 
other  name,  under  heaven,  given 
among  men,  whereby  we  must  be 
saved."  ^  i-Acts4:i2. 

There  is  a  passion  in  the  human 
heart  for  sin.  The  bitterest  enmity 
towards  the  great  still  abides,  and  a 
wild  infatuation  in  following  the  mis-  * 
guided  mob.  Thousands  have  taken 
their  stand  today  where  Israel  stood 
nineteen  centuries  ago,  clamoring  for 
His  crucifixion,  because  it  is  the  fash- 
ion of  the  hour,  blindly  following  their 

lOI 


THE  LYNCHING  OF  JESUS. 

yet  more  sightless  guides.  Justice 
stands  at  the  parting  of  the  ways.  To 
the  left  surge  the  frenzied  rabble  to 
crucify  Him  afresh  upon  their  "cross 
x-Bryan.of  gold,"^  or  somc  othcr  vauquishcd  de- 
lusion, impelled  to  deeds  they  know 
not  of  by  the  impetus  of  passion.  They 
repeat  the  Tragedy  of  Calvary! 

To  the  right  pass  those  who  are 
adored — the  tried,  the  trusted,  the  true. 
Here  are  to  be  found  men  and  women 
whose  memory  lies  upon  the  sea  of 
time,  like  the  sheen  of  the  moon  on  the 
bosom  of  the  great  deep.  Here  stand 
the  youth  who  are  the  hope  of  the 
world. 

"For  modes  of  faith  let  graceless  zealots  fight, 
a— Pope,         ^^  can't  be  wrong  whose  life  is  in  the  right.  "2 

All  who  would  be  lovers  of  law  and 
order  must  be  lovers  of  Jesus. 

102 


JUSTICE. 

There  are  higher  courts  than  earthly 
judicatories.  The  Nazarene  is  himself 
a  Judge.'  Before  His  august  tribunal  ^-a*^*^ 20:41. 
all  must  stand. ""  Annas,  Caiaphas,  ^-^'*"- ^5:  s^. 
Pontius  Pilate,  and  Herod  each  sat  in 
judgment  upon  Him.  Before  Him  each 
have  in  turn  appeared.  He  stands  at 
the  bar  of  the  world^s  choice  today ^  the 
world  will  stand  at  the  bar  of  His  jus- 
tice tomorrow!  Innocence  has  often 
been  victimized  by  personal  interest, 
political  pull,  sordid  bribery,  or  fren- 
zied passion.  In  the  distributive  jus- 
tice of  time  that  innocence  shall  be 
openly  vindicated,  that  infamy  pub- 
licly proclaimed.  The  judge  of  all  the 
earth  will  do  what  is  right.^  Every  3_Gen.  18:25.* 
man  shall  receive  the  just  recompense 
of  his  deeds."*     He  who  sits  in  eternal  4-Matt.  16: 27. 

103 


THE  LYNCHING  OF  JESUS. 

judgment  knows  tHe    merit  of  riglit, 
and  has  felt  tHe  oppression  of  wrong. 

The  sublime  fact  of  Calvary  is  its 
personal  equation.  It  is  said  that 
where  sleep  "the  deathless  dead"  of 
Chickamauga,  a  stranger  stood  beside  a 
broken-hearted  man  who  bathed  a  sol- 
dier's grave  with  a  river  of  tears. 
"Your  brother,  I  suppose,"  said  the 
spectator.  "No,''  was  the  quick  re- 
sponse, with  a  gentle  toss  of  that  sor- 
row-furrowed brow.  Grief  levels  all 
barriers  and  the  stranger  drew  a  little 
closer  to  him.  "Perhaps,"  said  he,  "he 
was  your  father."  "No."  "Certainly 
some  one  near  of  kin,"  insisted  the  in- 
terested visitor.  The  mourner  rose  to 
his  feet;  something  in  the  spectator's 
voice  had  told  him  of  a  tender  heart 
that  banished  all  suspicion  of  curiosity^ 

104 


JUSTICE. 

"Sir,  I  will  tell  you  who  lies  in  that 
g^ave  and  why  I  cannot  hide  my  tears. 
My  home  was  in  Chicago.  I  had  a 
wife  and  growing  family  dependent 
upon  my  daily  toil.  You  remember 
the  war,  sir?  Well,  I  was  drafted.  I 
could  not  sleep  for  wondering  how 
my  wife  and  babies  would  secure  their 
bread  and  meat.  John  came  and  said, 
* 'Robert,  no  one  is  dependent  upon  me; 
ril go^  hut  jy oil  must  stay^  All  of  us 
saw  him  pass  out  with  the  regiment 
and,  they  say,  he  was  ever  in  the 
front.  He  was  at  the  battle  of  Chicka- 
mauga — the  story  paused,  the  mourner 
could  not  speak.  The  stranger,  turn- 
ing to  wipe  away  the  falling  tear,  saw 
upon  the  simple  headstone, 

''HE  DIKD  FOR  ME." 

105 


INDEX. 

FAGB 

Action,  Springs  of,  Ch.  IV 

Acquitted 83,  84 

Addison 89 

Agrippa 68 

Akiba ^o 

Alabama  Jury .' 13 

American  L,aw  Review 15 

Anarchy 55 

Annas 59,  60,  61,  62,  68,  80 

Answers  of  Jesus 46  seq. 

Arrest,  Ch.  V 56,  58 

Authorities 6 

Bacon 65 


Bausman 


15 


Brewer 15 

Bryan 102 

Bryant 91 

Burke 19 

Burns 88 

Caiaphas 68,  53,  62,  63,  69,  81,  seq. 

Carlyle 96 

Chicago  Tribune 9,  u 

Christianity 94  seq. 

107 


INDEX. 

PAOB 

Claudius 96 

Contents 8 

Detroit  Free  Press 16 

DeVette 97 

Durbin 16 

Dupin 6,  74 

Edersheim 61,  65,  83 

Execution,  Time  of. 78,  79,  85 

Festus 68 

Forum 92 

Geikie 98 

Greenleaf 6 

Hegel .95 

Herder 95 

Herrick 16 

Herod 64,65,66,82 

Histoire  des  Institutions  de  Moise  et  du  Peuple 

Hebreu 28 

Indictments 67  seq. 

First 69,70 

Last 72 

Sum 73 

Injustice,  Courts  of,  Ch.  VI 

Jesus 41,  42,  43»  44,  45.  46,  seq.,  48,  49,  51,  52 

Jews 93 

Josephus 59,  ^o,  63*  87 

Joseph  of  Arimathea 83 

Judas 55 

Judges  at  the  Cross .87 

108 


INDEX. 

PAGE 

Law,  Ch.  Ill 

Prov • .  •  23 

Conditions 24 

Rome  and  Judah 24,  25 

Liniitations 26 

Procedure 26 

Sachedrin 26,  27 

Punishment 27 

Information 28 

Salvador  on 28 

Principles  of 29 

i^ay 31 

Pleading 31 

"Witnesses 32 

Facts 33 

Judges 34 

Auditors  . .    34 

Judgment 34,35 

Floor 35 

Prisoner 35 

Conviction 36 

Opinion 37 

Execution 37 

New  Evidence 38 

Humanity 39 

Lynched,  Ch.  I  and  XI 

Longfellow 12 

Malchus 57 

Mob 55 

Montague 16 

Morning  Court 82,  83 

109 


INDEX. 

PA.GB 

Name,  why  chosen 7 

Nero 93 

Newton 95 

Perronet 56 

Peters,  St 93 

Pilate 63,  71,  72,  81 

Pope 102 

Richter 96 

Roosevelt 14 

Rousseau 96 

Ryle 86 

Sanhedrin — See  Ch,  III 27 

Salvador 6,  27,  seq, 

Schulz 63 

Seneca 55 

Shakespeare , .95 

Shirley 55 

Spinoza 95 

Terrell 16 

Times-Democrat 13 

Trial,  Chs.  V  and  IX 

Tortured 88 

Tryphon 30 

Vardaman 16 

Watt 95 

World  Almanac 99 


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